THE RAKKHAINS OF BELKATA : THEIR WAY OF LIFEshodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/61550/8/08...The above census shows an increase of Arakanese population from 1872 to 1951 and

CHAPTER-IV

THE RAKKHAINS OF BELKATA :

THEIR WAY OF LIFE

ETHNIC ORIGIN OF THE RAKKHAINS

The origin of the Rakkhain people of the district may be traced to the

beginning of the nineteenth century. After the annexation of Arakan' by

Burma in 1987 some 30,000 Arakanese migrated from Arakan to coastal

zone. Some Arakanese settled in Patuakhali and Sundarban region.

Arakanese settlers were encouraged by the British officials for extending

cultivation. In the early stage of their settlement they paid no land tax to

British Government.

The Rakkhains of Patuakhali identify themselves as Rakkhain but not as

Mugh. According to khan (1984) the origin of Buddhist settlement in

Arakan belongs to present Myanmar State (former State of Burma).

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Patuakhali is closely connected to Cox's Bazar and Arakan. Similar

observation has been made by Salter (1975) as "that the Buddhist of

Patuakhali district sailed up to Bay of Bengal in 1789 from Rangoon and

reached to area to settle down". There are similarities with respect to

language, religions and cultural life among the Rakkhain of Patuakhali and

Rakkhain of Cox's Bazar . Marmas of Bandarban hill district have also

similarities with the Rakkhains of Patuakhali have the same origin although

they came at different times and following different routes and eventually

one group settled in hilly and another group settled in the coastal areas of

Bangladesh. Rakkhains to-day identify themselves as separate tribal group

of Bangladesh.

Rakkhain are the first settlers in the coastal areas of Patuakhali and Barguna

districts. They migrated to these coastal areas after Arakan had been

conquered by Burmese king Bowdowphya. In this connection H. Beveridge

says, "On the 24th March 1824, Thungari Mugh Petitioned the Board of

Revenue saying that he had brought two hundred and thirty families of

settlers at a great expense from Chittagong and Ramu, he was a native of

Arakan and he had abandoned has country when his monarch was

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dethroned and he had availed himself of the asylum offered by the British

government (Bangladesh District Gazetteer, 1982).

Historian G.E. Harvey mentioned that in 1789 the British in Bengal granted

Mugh families the right over the lands in Bakergonj, Sundarban, the

southern most Ganges delta. During the last quarter of 18th century 150

Arakanese families, led by captain Paw Aung, U Gown Bagree and Aflow

kyaw fled from Arakan in 50 boats to Rangabali island in the district of

Patuakhali. Led by these three leaders Arakanese immigrants cleared the

land and built their home in the island. Gradually the number of the

Arakanese increased and they spread to the neighbouring no mans land. At

present, Arakanese settlement exist in 52 villages of four thanas of

Patuakhali and Barguna. It has been shown in Table-7.

Table-7: Arakanese Population Census in Patuakhali and Barguna.

Year

1872

1911

1951

1961

1979

Male

2140

-

-

5934

1881

Female

1909

-

-

6259

1832

Total Population

4049

8600

16,394

12,190

3713

Source: Census of India 1872, 1911, Pakistan 1951, 1961, Bangladesh 1979.

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The above census shows an increase of Arakanese population from 1872 to

1951 and its decrease during the period from 1961 to 1979 in these district.

The tidal bore, tornado, and cyclone that occurred in 1960, 1964, 1965

brought devastation and salinity and adversely affected agriculture.

The Rakkhains were nomadic in their habits and gradually they settled

down in the land which they cleared of mangrove forest. In the earlier stage

they were excellent wood cutters, but slowly they lost their stamina and

settled down as ordinary cultivators. After that they became permanent

settlers in the area and began to live in the villages near the sea. Normally,

they live in wooden houses raised on piles. The Rakkhain can marry both

within and outside the clan. The important jobs are mostly entrusted to

women in the Rakkhain community. Important jobs are those connected

with the earning of bread and maintenance of livelihood. Farming is done

by women and men are just auxiliary in it. The structure of the clan is based

on dominance of the male and as such it is patriarchal.

The number of the Rakhain Buddhists shown in the 1951 census was 16,394

for the district of Bakergonj, which included the present Patuakhali district.

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According to the census of 1961, 12,190 Buddhists in the area now

comprising Patuakhaii district. Of them, 5,934 were males and 6,256

females.

Table-8: The Rakhain Population of the Patuakhaii District (Thana-

wise) According to the 1961 Census.

Locality

Patuakhaii Sub-division

Patuakhaii Thana

Mirzagonj Thana

Bauphal Thana

Galachipa Thana

Kalapara Thana

Barguna Sub-division

Barguna Thana

Amtali Thana

Betagi Thana

Bamna Thana

Patharghata Thana

Buddhists

6,915

9 1

5

~

315

6,586

5,275

266

4,986

23

—

—

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HOUSING PATTERN

Housing Pattern: The tradition of housing practices of mongoloid people

have similar character in the most part of Asia and Southeast Asia. The

Rakkhains of Belkata built houses to take shelter and to protect

themselves from all natural calamities. The Rakkhain houses are built at

high places. The houses are built on the following consideration:

• Hygienic because easy to remove dust.

• Easy to clean house.

• Moderate cold and hot.

• Free air movement. -̂ ̂

Easy to repair the houses. ^sssfc—-^''^

Most of Rakkhain houses in Belkata are made of mangroves trees e.g.

sundari, gazari, keora, hetal, golpata and bamboo. The houses are

bungalow type which are locally known as tong house. In this construction

system big wooden posts are fixed on the ground. The measurement and

distance to posts may vary as required. The construction of reams started

from the post and there is a gap between stair and ground. Roof is made of

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golpata. The houses of Rakkhain are generally strong enough to face

strong wind.

Houses are made by them as required. Main doors and windows are

essential. The owner can make such houses according to his need and

financial ability. The rooms are constructed considering corner like prayer

room, agandu tai (family comer), eensha tai (guardian corner), lupyo tai

(bachelor comer), aswe khang (store room), thmey sha-khang (kitchen

room), ayen tha (lavatory) etc. Main entrance to the house is nothing but a

wooden ladder through a door.

The house of the Rakkhains consist of several rooms like guest room,

guardian room, family room, spinster room, bachelor room etc. These

rooms are separated by bamboo fencing. The spinster room and family

rooms are very essential to them. Sometimes guest room and bachelor

rooms are used for the same purpose. Guardian room or master bed room

remain reserved for household head living with his wife.

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The houses have two types of store rooms. One is for preserving food

stuff, household utensils, usable additional mattress and quilt, pillow,

basket, old box, etc. Another store room is used for keeping agricultural

tools, fishing equipment and household usable implements. The store

room is adjacent to the ground. It's between upstairs and ground floor.

The rear part of the house is allotted for kitchen and adjacent to the

habitable rooms. Cooking utensils, condiments, grinding equipment, oven,

small cup-board and other necessary articles are kept in the kitchen.

The extreme rear part of the house is connected with latrine. The height of

latrine is as usual as other rooms. In the past, most of the Rakkhains toilets

were unsanitary. Still some of the poor families are use open toilets

adjacent to the house. Both water and special type of sanitary sticks are

used by Rakkhain people for cleaning purposes.

Use of Furniture : The Rakkhains use special type of traditional dinning

table. It is called poidan (small type of dinning table). It's stands are short

but food may be served easily on the table. Other furniture are

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traditionally home made. These are cupboard, mats (made of Hogol pata

and Keoa Pata), special wooden box (locally called Rangoon Box) etc.

Rakkhain are habituated to sleep on the wooden floor. Some houses are

decorated with deer skull and horn.

Valuation of Rakkhain houses : It may vary from house to house

according to different social stratum. Some rich people have tin houses

and other people simply live in small hut. Approximate valuation of the

houses ranges from three thousand taka to sixty thousand taka.

Food habit: Food habits of the Rakkhains have grown according to their

religious ideology. Most of the Rakkhains are Buddhist by birth. They

have Buddhist tradition in their food practices. Rakkhains preserve their

traditions with attractive food and drinks. In various festivals they use

special type of food and drinks. Rice is most common to them. The

Rakkhains are using rice as their staple food. Types, quality and food

value are very important matters in respect of food. Most of Rakkhains

foods are nutritious.

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The following are their special foods :

Hloza : Steam boiled bint rice mixed with a kind of powder (made from

various roots of plants) to form youg heart. It is kept for three days in

room temperature and on the third day the rice become youg hearted and

the juice becomes very sweet. It is served in a plate with spoon.

Moonde : It is totally rice noodle. Rice is penetrated with water for one

night. One the next day it is formed as paste and pressed by a dice to

produce noodles. It is served with tasty soup, product of fish and shrimp

source. Black pepper, onion fry and egg boil are additional food for better

test.

Gnpie : Made of dry shrimp in a pasty form. It is stored in a clay pot. Salt,

garlic and mastered oil are applied for the long term use. This shrimp is

used in vegetable fry, various types of curry etc. It is used in economical

cooking. Calcium and protein are confining in this gnpie (dried fish).

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Hmoo : It is mushroom, type of curry in Rakkhain tradition. It is used in

soup and fry. The mushroom is obtained from cowdung heap. It is a high

protein containing food.

Khow Swee : It is egg noodle. Rakkhain take this in soup and fry. It is

very nutritious food.

Hen Roy Sheng : Ingredients are green vegetable, hot water boiled rice,

salt etc. They are stored in a pot and after two days the vegetable is taken

out from the pot. It is sour in taste, served with normal dish added by

ground chilli with gnpie.

Kythemu : It is made from rice powder. The ingredients are rice powder,

sugar, water, coconut milk.

Sath bomu : It is made of special rice called bini. The ingredients are by

bini rice powder, coconut kernel, sugar. It is prepared without water.

Powder is spread over a hot pan which forms a bread. It is prepared

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without water. Powder is spreaded over a hot pan and formed a bread.

Then coconut kernel and sugar are mixed with it. It is very deUcious and

highly nutritious.

Seagyow-mu : It is made of special rice bini. Its ingredients are banana,

rice powder coconut, kernel, sugar, hot water. Rice powder and sugar are

mixed and then they make small breads. Coconut with sugar are poured

into the bread and fried in deep oil. Hot or cold dish may be served.

Kow-hneng : It is black bini rice steam boiled with coconut kernel. It is

good in taste but it is prohibited for the sick people, because of rice fat.

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CHART NO. 7

List of Rakkhain's Food

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

OTHER FOODS

Pork

Shark flesh

Turtle & it's eggs.

Snail

Crabs

Mussels

Iguana

Crocodile & eggs

Frog

Cat (wild)

Fox

Porcupine

Round eel

Mutton

Beef

Buffalo meat

Hare

DESCRIPTION OF PREPARATION

Baking, frying, cooking and mixing with potato

as a curry.

Drying, burning, cooking.

Cooking and frying & egg boiled.

Frying.

Burning, pest frying, salt boiling.

Cooking, frying.

Cooking eggs are served with salt boiling.

Cooking, baking, eggs are served as salt youg

heartening.

Cooking, frying.

Cooking, baking.

Baking, cooking

Baking, cooking.

Cooking with coconut kernel.

Cooking, baking.

Cooking, baking.

Cooking, baking.

Cooking, baking.

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DRINKS

Arya (Rice wine) : It is made from rice. Locally it is known as arya

(wine). Boiled rice is medicated by home made ingredients. After four or

five days the rice become juicy and a bit fungal. Then all amount is taken

to oven for distillation. The rice wine is produced for drinking.

Molasses wine : This wine is made from molasses. Molasses and water,

the two components are main raw materials. With required proportion it is

placed in a comer of house to maintain temperature. The expert knows

about air bubbles that the symptom of the formation of alcohol. Later, it is

taken for distillation. The molasses wine is more stronger than the rice

wine.

Lafa : The most important and common drinks in the daily life of the

Rakkhains of Belkata is lafa. It is difficult to imagine the daily life without

lafa. It is the day long drink. It is very hot drink from light tea use without

sugar and milk. It is believed that dehydration is partly prevented by the

lafa. It reduces thirst in summer and increases energy for works. They also

maintain hospitality by the lafa to the strangers.

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DRESS PATTERN AND ORNAMENTS

Rakkhains have traditional dress and ornaments. For the men and women

there is different types of dresses. Thbing (cloth) is for women covering

lower part of body. Men use renjai (shirt) and women are using anee

(blouse). The children use child dresses from early life. In the past they

use to make their own dress by hand looms. Still most women make their

dress at home. Gradually these dress are being replaced by printed clothes

from the market. The Rakkhains have traditional weaving system for a

long time. But it is going to disappear due to (market) competition.

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CHART NO. 8

List of Rakkhain's Dresses

NAME OF DRESSES DESCRIPTION OF USE

Angee

Khyout

Bodli

Taipoong

Gbongi

Thbing

Tanbaing

Shirt for male.

Loongi for male.

Bodies for female.

Shirt without colour male.

Old man's cap.

Loongi for women

Cloth, used by women i

time.

Rengang

Athe khan

Pwa

Mmaangee

Kodong kodong

Used by old women insted of

bodies.

Petty coat for women.

Handkerchief.

Blouse

Old man's cloth.

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CHART NO. 9

LIST OF ORNAMENTS

Name in Rakkhain Language

Laikow

Nswee

Byat

Chindoo

Thogro

Kshen

Laichoat

Ngat

Shewgro

Description of use

Bracelet

Ornaments for young girl

Necklace

Ornaments for women

Waistlet

Leg bracelet

Ring

Cloth for old women

Chain for young girl

Rakkhains use traditional utensils which are mainly made of valuable

wood, cane and bamboo. Some utensils are purchased from local market.

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CHART-10

LIST OF UTENSILS

Name of Rakkhain Language Description of preparation

Ooh

Heno-Ooh

Pong-Ooh

Themeng-Ooh

Augh

Swan-Augh

Khoen

Phaying

Cooking, pan made of brass,

aluminium, clay etc.

Curry cooking pan, made of brass,

aluminium, clay etc.

Steam boiling pan for Bini rice and

made of clay.

Rice cooking pan, made of aluminium.

Made of special type wood designed

for cooking food, other excessories for

religious purpose.

A kind of container used for carry meal

for Buddhist monk. Made of any good

metal.

Oven, mounted on a table with thick

clay.

Plate for using meal. Made of bronze,

stainless steel and ceramics.

108

Name of Rakkhain Language

Pgun

Hen Khoe

Long Boyi

Jouan

Jouan Shey

Thong

Thong Soong

Changoo

San-Kha

Tong

Tong-Shay

Khreng

Description of preparation

Bowl used for serving curry, soup and

other foods. Made of metal or

ceramics.

Bowl for serving curry and other meal.

Extra plate for serving rice. Made of

metal or ceramic.

Long spoon made of metal for serving

rice.

Small spoon used for serving curry and

soup.

Long spoon, made of wood or bamboo,

used for serving food in a pan.

Condiments grinder. Made of clay.

Made of bamboo and cane. Used for

removing husk from milled rice and

other purpose.

Made of bamboo and cane. Used for

removing broken rice and husk from

milled rice.

Container, used for carry paddy and

rice. Made of bamboo and cane.

Small container.

Basket made of bamboo and cane.

Used for catching fish.

109

Name of Rakkhain Language

Slaa

Oong-Khrai

Koan-Hnayt

Koan-Augh

Thonch-Moyen

Se-Me-Khoai

Se-Me-Deng

Hman-Loon

Byan

Khoai

Phan-Doon

Poi-Dan

Ookhoai

Do-Ooh

Baity

Hpyah

Description of preparation

Gunny bag used for preserving rice and

seed.

Whiper of coconut kernel. Made of

steel.

Betelnut cutter. Made of steel.

Container for betel leaf. Made of metal.

Wooden shaft for grinding condiments.

Lamp, made of clay, tin, glass etc.

Stand for lamp.

Hurricane

Flat cup. Made of ceramic used for

drinking tea and milk.

Cup made of ceramic used for drinking

tea and milk.

Glass for drinking water

Round table with short stand made of

wood, used for taking meal.

Pitcher, Made of clay, water container.

Big water container, made of clay. It is

in round shape.

Water carrier. Made of tin and iron.

Mat used for sitting made of Hogla

leaf.

110

Name of Rakkhain Language

Re-Bu

Bangma

Kdow

Thain-Khu

SongDoong

Description of preparation

Water container, used for serving on

the dinning table. Made of aluminium,

glass,

Half round basket.

Container of salt or Napi. Made of

hoglapata.

Small wooden seat.

Box for storing utensils.

WORK CYCLE

Rakkhain women wake up early in the morning. They fold their bed after

raising from the bed. Firstly they begin to clean the boundary of the house.

Before preparing breakfast they use to clean face and wash mouth by

ashes or tooth brash. They go to prayer room for several minutes. During

prayer time they ring peace bell. Women and girls dress up with various

cosmetics. Thanakha is a very essential cosmetic for the Rakkain women.

It is made of root of thanakha plant. This is a popular medicine plant. It

cures various fungal infection on the face. Women carry water by a pitcher

from clean pond or ditches near the village. They never use tubewell water

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for cooking purpose but use ponds and ditches water for house use. They

drink boiled water. Neat and cleanliness is major part of Rakkhain

women's life. Rakkhain girls are habituated with modern dress and

cosmetics. They have got beautiful physical structure with smiling face

during work time. Sometimes the women work in the field. Most of the

field work is done by males. Women take bath in mid day and use a small

reshokhang (bath room) near the house.

Hair dressing is also important routine for Rakkhain women. They use

coconut oil for hair. Most of the Rakkhain women of Belkata have long

hair because they take care of their hair.

RAKKHAIN MUSIC

Rakkhain music has its own tradition. There are two types of Rakkhain

music. Modern music is followed by now-a-day idioms. In this modem

music method Rakkhin young people use to compose the songs with some

modem instmment and modem idioms of songs. They may use the

instmment with combination of traditional and modern music.

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The ancient system is followed by the absolute traditional method. In this

system they distinguish different types of songs and idioms Lenga^ Than -

bowgh. The people use to follow pegu or Jaipoi is the most popular

traditional musical folklore among the Rakhain people. In this pegu dance,

main focusing point is drama. The drama is divided by two parts. The first

is composed by modem facts. Joker, parody, candle dance, and other roles

are important chapter of this modern facts.

The second parts is composed by total historical affairs. The story may be

taken from any religions facts. This acting roles start from mid night to

early morning. The drama is always with full of tragedy and comedy. AH

categories of actions can participate in the drama.

Different types of musical instruments arc used in different pari of action.

Following instruments arc used by the Rakkliaiiis of Belkata :

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CHART NO. 11

Musical Instruments Description of Music

Heny A kind of flute like shanai. Most essential

instrument used for tragedy and parody. It is

use by mouth.

Pama The main drum for music playing. Made of

big hollow wood in figure of round. It is

covered by skin of cattle. Drum is

controlling music.

Pama Shey Small drum for assisting big Pama and

maintain musical time. There may be four or

five numbers of Pama shey for balancing

the scale of Pama.

Lan Khoy A kind of musical instrument made of round

shape brass.

Che Made of wood or bamboo used for

maintaining time of lanjchoy.

114

Paitalow - Composition of several ripples (without

water) made of bamboo, brass, iron or other

metal.

Sein - Composition of many small drums. About

25-30 small drums are surrounded. It is

costly and difficult to play.

chandya - A kind of very ancient ripple it is very nice

to play.

Chong - A kind of sophisticated music consist of

forty or fifty metallic wire. It is played by

special type of artist. It is used for exposing

tragedy and comedy.

RAKKHAIN SPORTS AND GAMES

Rakkhain have their own games. Mostly they follow outdoor games.

Rakkhain people enjoy their games. They play the following games :

115

Phan dan (Hadodo)

Down brow (Jumping)

Kro swepry (Rope drawing)

Kyen lunpoy (Wrestling)

Their is no specific play ground but the Rakkhain youths use open field

for game. During the winter season they play more games. Wrestling is a

favourite game in the community. Phan dan is a popular game, youth

people organize phandan competition in the para. Football is also a

favourite game to youth. Boys and girls play carom, ludu in the houses.

RAKKHAIN'S SOCIAL CONSTRAINTS IN THE VILLAGE

The Government of Bangladesh adopted a policy for agricultural

development. Bangladesh Water Development Board implemented the

project for making coastal flood protective polder to check both salinity

and inundation brackish water. This improved the condition of socio­

economic development of the distress people. Meanwhile most of the

116

Rakkhains were ruined as a result of previous disaster. They became poor

and had to sell almost all their lands to the plain native settlers. Also some

of the local people gave loans to the aboriginal with high interest rate. To

recover interest they followed illegal way to grab Rakkhains assets. They

played role of mediator between local administration and Rakkhains. Later

the relation became bitter between two ethnic groups.

In Belkata village Rakkhains face following social constrains:

The Rakkhain community is a minority group and they have failed to

assimilate with plain natives. Though they are living in the same area.

The Rakkhains are facing natural calamities. For that reason they

cannot built rural infrastructure properly.

Still they are surviving with farming profession, but they have failed to

adopt diversified profession.

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Rakkhain people are not quite educated in Bengali, for that reason they

cannot write, read and communicate with local administrator and

others.

They are not socially well organised, for that reason they cannot move

with their demands to higher authority.

• Most of the administrator are plain natives, so ethnocentrism is

working in favour of plain natives. So, naturally Rakkhains are not

getting proper justice from local authority and administration.

Sometimes plain natives utter bad language to Rakkhain. Some plain

natives often come into conflict with Rakkhain to forfeit their land and

valuable assets.

118